Hydraulic well pump



May 11, 1937. HUMASON 2,079,996

HYDRAULIC WELL PUMP Filed Jan 20, 1936 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Z5 f7 3 I gram/We 6. flan 14 2f;-

May 11, 1937. G, A HUMASON 2,079,996

HYDRAUL I C WELL PUMP Filed Jan. 20, 1936 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 mmW/e 6. #umaaan May 11, 1937. G. A. HUMASON I HYDRAULIC WELL PUMP Filed Jan. 20, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 May 11, 1937.

I i /0 W 57 58 i 62 W 57/ a/ G. A. HUMASON 2,079,996

HYDRAULIC WELL PUMP Filed Jan. 20, 1936 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 0 .1] M -34 y jn uqfoc Srtmwgd May 11, 1937. G. A. HUMASON HYDRAULIC WELL PUMP 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 .1 3 a v q 7 z 8 8 3 5 0 6 la 0 4 1 iii 53 3 a r pl; k it i w 1 JV J/ L///# r V c Q a Filed Jan. 20, 1936 Qrawu/We AMI 077726072 y 1937- G. A. HUMASON 2,079,996

HYDRAULIC WELL PUMP Filed Jan. 20, 1936 6 SheetsSheet 6 nm M/e f7. flamasorz Patented May 11, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a hydraulic well pump.

Anobject of the invention is to provide a pump of the character described specially adapted for pumping liquid from wells and wherein an operating fluid, applied from theground surface, is utilized to operate the pump.

It is another object of the invention to provide a pump of the character described wherein the upwardly moving column of fluid being pumped will be substantially balanced by the column of operating fluid, thereby requiring a minimum of power to operate the pump.

Another object of the invention is to provide in .a pump of the character described novel means for returning the operating plunger and traveling valve mechanism to lower position preparatory to beginning another discharge stroke thereof.

The invention further comprehends novel means for relieving the gas that may accumulate in the well and for utilizing gas pressure to assist in the discharge of the well liquid.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention has particular relation to certain novel features of construction, operation, and arrangement of parts, an example of which is given in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 shows a side view, partly in section, of the upper end of the pump.

Figure 2 shows a vertical, sectional view of an intermediate section thereof.

Figure 3 shows a vertical, sectional view of the lower end thereof.

Figure 4.- shows a fragmentary, vertical sectional view showing a slight modification.

Figure 5 shows a vertical, sectional view of an intermediate portion of the pump taken at right angles to the view shown in Figure 2.

Figure 6 shows a vertical, sectional view of the lower end of the pump taken at right angles to the view shown in Figure 3.

Figure 7 shows a cross-sectional view taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 5.

Figure 8 shows a cross-sectional view taken on the line 88 of Figure 6.

Figure 9 shows a side view, partly in section, of still another modification.

Figure 10 shows a cross-sectional view taken on the line |Ulll of Figure 9.

Figure 11 shows a side view of the complete assembly illustrated in Figures 1, 2, and 3, and shown partly in section.

Figure 12 shows a vertical, sectional view of an intermediate section of the pump showing a slight modification.

Figure 13 shows a vertical, sectional view of the lower end thereof.

Figure 14 shows a sectional View of a floating plunger employed, and

Figure 15 shows a vertical sectional view of the upper end of the pump showing still another modification.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein like numerals of reference designate similar parts in each of the figures, the numeral l designates the well casing, to the upper end of which a tubular head 2 is connected by means of the coupling 3. Leading out from the head 2 there is one or more flow lines 4 for the pumped liquid. Leading out from the coupling 9 there is one or more flow lines for the outflow of gas or other liquid flowing up through the casing.

The head 2 has a downwardly converging seat 6 therein in which is seated the downwardly tapering hanger l which is secured in place by the releasable clamp-ring 8. The joint between the hanger and. the seat 6 is made fluid-tight by means of the annular packing 9, as shown. The inner string l0 through which the operating fluid is applied is connected at its upper end to, and

1 is suspended from, the hanger l, and the flow tube A cylinder l2 has its lower end screwed into the upper end of the hanger I. There are the upper and lower plungers l3, M, which are connected by the rod l5; the upper plunger works in the cylinder l2, and the lower plunger works in the upper end of the inner string Ill. The piston rod I5 works through a suitable stufiing box IS in the hanger l and which fits closely about said rod.

There is a pressure line H which has the branches l8, l9. These branches enter the hanger below and above the stumng box IE, respectively, and are controlled by the conventional two way valve 20 provided with a relief outlet 2|. The valve is intermittently actuated by a suitable actuating mechanism 22 which is connected thereto. When the valve is actuated into one position, fluid under pressure such as steam, gas, or other fluid, is admitted through the branch 18 above the plunger H and the plungers are forced downwardly. I

With the valve 20 in the position indicated, the relief outlet 2l' will be opened so as to permit the escape of fluid in the cylinder l2 beneath the another position the branch l9 will be opened .to the pressure line H and closed to said relief line and the branch ill will be closed to the pressure line and opened to the relief line. Pressure fluid will thus be admitted into the cylinder 62 beneath the plunger 93 and the plungers i3, M, will be elevated.

The string i6 is arran ed concentrically within the flow tube H, thus providing a channel 23 for the pumped liquid. The numeral 24 designates a cylindrical pump body to the upper end of which the inner string l9 and the outer tubing ii are connected. The pump body has the upper and lower cylinders 25, 26, therein. In the upper cylinder there is the plunger 21 and in the lower cylinder there is the traveling valve mechanism 28 which is connected to the plunger 27 by means of the connecting rod 29. The cylinders 25, 26 are separated by a suitable stufiing box 30 through which the rod 29 works.

The traveling valve mechanism 23 has an axial passageway therethrough for the passage of liquid being pumped, and this passageway is controlled by the upwardly opening valve 3! which is confined by the cage 32 to which the rod 29 is attached. A strong coil spring 33 surrounds the rod 29 and is interposed between the cage 32 and stufiing box 30. This spring, assisted by the column of pumped liquid above, forces the traveling valve mechanism 28 and the plunger 21 downwardly, upon elevation thereof, as hereinafter explained.

Connected to the lower end of the pump body 24 is the well screen, or other inflow pipe 34, and located within the inlet chamber 35 in the lower end of the pump body 24 there is the upwardly opening standing valve mechanism 36 which controls the inflow of liquid from the screen 34 into the chamber 35.

The inner string of pipe I6 will be filled with an operating fluid, preferably oil, and upon downward movement of the plunger M, as hereinabove explained, the pressure of the operating fluid will be transmitted through the channels 31, 31, into the cylinder 25 beneath the plunger 21, and said plunger will be elevated, the liquid in the cylinder 25 above it passing out through the ducts 38, 38, into the channels 39, 39, and passing thence on up through the channel 23. As

the plunger 21 moves upwardly, the travelingvalve mechanism 28 will move upwardly also,

and the liquid in the cylinder 26 above said traveling valve mechanism will be forced outwardly through the ports 40, 40, into said channels 39, 39, and thence upwardly. Upon upward movement of the traveling valve mechanism 28, the well liquid will flow upwardly into the chamber 35, lifting the standing valve 36 and passing on up through the channels 4|, 4 l into the cylinder 26 beneath the traveling valve mechanism.

When the valve 20 is operated to close the branch l6 and to open the branch l9, pressure fluid will be admitted into the cylinder l2 beneath the plunger l3 and the plungers l3, l4, will be elevated, the plunger 21 and the traveling valve mechanism correspondingly descending, the

spring 33 acting to force said plunger 21 and traveling valve mechanism 28 downwardly to their lower positions. As the traveling valve 28 moves downwardly, the liquid in the cylinder 26 will .pass upwardly above the traveling valve and upon the next succeeding stroke of the traveling valve, said liquid above it will be further elevated through the channels 39, 23, and additional well liquid will flow into the chamber 35 and up through the channels ii to replace the discharger liquid. The cycle will be repeated as the valve 29 is shifted to alternately open the branches l8 and i9 to the pressure line ii, the pumped liquid being discharged out through one or both of the lines 4. As illustrated in Figure 4, however, the flow line it may be dispensed with and a packer 42 attached to the upper end of the pump body so as to close the space between the upper end of the pump body and the well casing. In this form the pumped liquid will flow up through the channels 39 and on up through the channel 23a and into the casing above the packing 42 and thence on up and out through either of the flow lines 4 and 5.

Beneath the cylinder 26, the pump body is provided with an axial bore 43 having the upper and lower valve seats 44, 45, which are retained in place by the upper and lower plugs 46, ll. The seat 14 is controlled by the downwardly opening ball valve 68 which is seated on a coil spring 49. The plug 46 has an axial bore aligned with the passageway through the seat 44 and the lower ends of the channels 39 are connected into the bore 43 beneath the valve 48. end of the pump body has a transverse bore 53 which continues on through the plug 4'! and is connected into the central passageway through the valve seat 45. This seat 45 is controlled by an upwardly opening ball valve 5! which is normally held seated by the coil spring 49. In case gas pressure accumulates in the well, the valves controlling the outlet lines 5 may be closed and the gas thus caused to pass in through the bore and to lift the valve 5| passing on upwardly through the channels 43, 39, 23, and thus assisting in the expulsion of the liquid being pumped. Upon downstroke of the traveling valve mechanism 28, a portion of the liquid in the cylinder 26 beneath said valve will be forced downwardly, unseating the valve 48 and passing on out into the channels 39 and upwardly through them, said valve 48 seating upon upstroke of the valve mechanism 28 to prevent the backfiow of said v liquid from the channels 39.

per end of this pump body is connected to the I outer pipe or casing 53 in the well, and there is an inner pipe 54 spaced from the outer pipe and also connected tothe upper end of the pump body. The inner pipe 54 extends through a stufling box 55 at the upper end of the outer pipe 53 to form a fluid-tight joint between them.

Attached to the lower end of the pump body there is the screen 34 and the inflow of liquid from the well through said screen is controlled by the standing valve 36. The pump body 52 has an upper cylinder 56 and a lower cylinder 51 with a partition56 between them. There is a plunger 59 in the upper cylinder and a traveling valve mechanism 60 in the lower cylinder, said piston and traveling valve mechanism being connected by a rod 6| which works through the stuifing box 62 in the partition 58. There is a channel 63 which leads from the space between the outer and inner pipes 53 and 54 and which enters the lower end of the cylinder 56, and there is a channel 64 which connects the upper ends of the cylinders 56, 51.

At the ground surface there is a cylinder 65 in which is located a piston 66 having the piston rod 61 working through the stufling box 68 in The lower the head of the cylinder 65. This piston may be operated by any suitable power.

Leading from the bottom of the cylinder 65 and connected into the top of the outer pipe 53 there is a branch line 69, and leading out from the top of the cylinder 65 and connected to the upper end of the inner pipe 54 there is a branch line ill. The lower end of the inner pipe 54 is connected into the cylinder 56.

The cylinder 65 has a discharge line II whose upper end carries a float chamber I2 which is provided with an outlet pipe I3. There is an inwardly opening valve I4 in the float chamber and arranged to close the outlet pipe I3. The valve i4 is hinged to the wall of the chamber I2 above the outlet from said chamber, and attached to the valve and extending into the chamber, there is an arm I5 whose free end is downwardly turned and has the float I6 attached thereto. The float chamber I2 is elevated above the cylinder 65, as illustrated in Figure 9.

Before beginning operation, the pump is filled with liquid, preferably oil, so as to fill the cylinders 56, 57, the lines 53, 54, and their branches, as well as the cylinder 65 and the float chamber I2. Upon downstroke of the piston 66 the liquid will be forced through the line 69, the outer pipe 53, and the conduit 63, into the cylinder 56 and the piston 59 will be elevated, moving the traveling valve 60 upwardly and elevating the column of liquid above it and drawing in an additional charge through the standing valve 36. The pumped liquid will be delivered into the cylinder 65 above the piston 66 and will pass on out through the line H into the float chamber I2. Upon upstroke of the piston 66 the liquid will be forced through the branch Ill and the inner pipe 54 into the cylinder 56, forcing the piston 59 and traveling valve 68 downwardly. During this downward movement, the liquid in the cylinder 56 beneath the piston 59 will be forced back up through the bore 63 into the pipe 53, and upon succeeding downward movement of the plunger 66, the traveling valve 60 will again be forced upwardly as before discharging the pumped liquid through the branch I8 into the cylinder 65, the liquid passing from said cylinder out into the float chamber, as before.

It is to be noted that the valve I4 will close the outlet pipe I3 until suflicient liquid has accumulated in the float chamber to lift the float and open said outlet valve I4, thereupon the liquid will flow out of the float chamber and will continue so to flow, due to the siphon action, until the float 16 has dropped and caused the valve I4 to close.

In the form shown in Figure 12 the channel 39a has the back-pressure valve 3917 located at the upper end of the pump body 24. The valve 39b opens upwardly to permit the upward flow of the pumped liquid into the channel 23 and thence out through the line 4, said channel 39a being connected into the upper end of the cylinder 26 through the outlet port 40. In this form the lower end of the channel 31a for the operating fluid is connected into the lower end of the cylinder 25 and the upper end of said channel 31a is connected into the lower end of the inner string l8 through the pipe 31b. The discharge channel 23 is connected into the upper end of the cylinder 25 through the duct 38a.

In the form shown in Figures 12 and 13, the spring 33 is not employed, but there is located in the cylinder 25 above the plunger 21 a floating plunger 81 which is equipped with suitable upwardly and'downwardly opening cup-rings, as 810.. This plunger 81 has a deep cavity 88 therein which is closed at its upper end but which opens downwardly. There is a body of liquid 98, such as oil, in the cylinder 25 between the plungers 2'1 and 81. Upon upward movement of the plunger 21 when the plunger 81 has reached the limit of its upward movement the further upward movement of the plunger 21 will compress the air in the cavity 88 and when the pressure of the operating fluid beneath the plunger 21 is relieved, the expansion of the air in the cavity or pocket 88 will start the plunger 21 in its downward movement and may be sufflcient to move said plunger 21 back to its original position, particularly when assisted by the weight of the plunger and the traveling valve mechanism supplemented by the pressure of the column of fluid above.

A modified form of the traveling plunger is shown in Figure 14 and is designated generally by the numeral 8112 which has the lower and upper pockets or cavities 88a and 89. This plunger 8Ib is intended for the same purpose as the plunger 81. The upper pocket 89 is provided for the purpose of collecting sand or other sediment that may settle out of the liquid flowing upwardly through the channel 23.

As shown in Figure 15, a hanger la. is seated in the tubular head 2 and is surrounded by a packing gland I! which is fitted into said head and which is maintained in place and under compression by the compression nut I8 screwed into the upper end of the head. Inthis form, the outlet flow line 4 is equipped with a control valve mechanism I9 arranged to automatically open when a predetermined pressure of the fluid, flowing through the line 4, is reached, but which will remain closed when said pressure is below the predetermined pressure.

The upper end of the tubing hanger Ia is closed by a suitable plug 80 and a pressure line 8| enters the upper end of said hanger. This line is connected into the pressure tank 82 wherein the operating fluid is maintained under pressure by a suitable compressor 83. The pressure line 8| is controlled by an automatically operable valve 84 which is actuated by a suitable valveactuating mechanism 85 of any selected construction which will intermittently open and close the valve 84. When the valve 84 is opened, the operating fluid will be admitted and will pass down through the inner string I8 into the cylinder 25 and beneath the plunger 21 of either form (except the form shown in Figure 9) and thereupon said plunger 21 will be elevated, elevating the traveling valve mechanism 28 and lifting the pumped liquid up through the channels 39, or 39a, and the channel 23 to the ground surface.

The pumped liquid will attain a pressure in excess of that required to open the valve I9 and upon the closing of the valve 84 the pressure of the operating fluid in the inner string ID will be relieved through the relief outlet port 86 of the valve 84, thus relieving the pressure of the operating fluid in the cylinder 25 beneath the plunger 21. The valve I9, however, will close while the column of fluid in the channel 23 is under considerable pressure, depending on the adjustment of the valve I9, and the reaction of this pressure against the plunger 21 of the form shown in Figures 2 and 5, or against the traveling plunger 81, 81b, of the form shown in Figure 12,

Cit

will cause a downward stroke of the plunger 2? and the traveling valve mechanism beneath and thereupon upon the opening of the valve 8 3, the cycle will be repeated.

The hanger la is equipped with a faucet 8lc for the purpose of testing the presence or absence of operating fluid in the inner pipe ill.

The drawings and description disclose what is n JW considered to be a preferred form of the invention by way of illustration only, while the broad principle of the invention will be defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

i 1. A hydraulic pump comprising pumping mechanism shaped to be located in a Well, a cylinder, a plunger in the cylinder connected to, and efiective to operate, the pumping mechanism, the pump having two conduits, one for a column of operating fluid and the other for a column of pumped liquid, the conduit for the operating fluid being connected into the cylinder beneath the plunger whereby the plunger may be elevated by the pressure of the operating fluid, and means for relieving the gas under pressure in the well with the pumped liquid.

2. A pump comprising pumping mechanism shaped to be located in a well, and including a cylinder, a plunger in the cylinder, means for reciprocating the plunger, said pump having a conduit through which a column of pumped liquid may be discharged from the well, the lower end of the conduit being connected into the cylinder beneath the plunger, a standing valve controlling the advance of the pumped liquid upwardly through the pump, means including a traveling valve connected to the plunger for causing the advance of said liquid upwardly and means for relieving the gas under pressure in the well with the pumped liquid.

3. In a pump a cylindrical pump body having an axial bore provided with upper and lower valve seats, the upper seat being controlled by a downwardly opening valve and the lower seat being controlled by an upwardly opening valve, yieldable means holding the respective valves closed, said body having a duct leading outwardly through the body from beneath the lower valve, said body having a cylinder above the upper valve and having an inlet chamber beneath the lower valve and having a channel connecting said chamber and cylinder, a standing valve controlling the infiow of liquid into said chamber and a means reciprocable in the cylinder provided to induce the advance of liquid upwardly through said channel.

GRANVILLE A. HUMASON. 

